PORT ANGELES — The federal government is giving $360,000 to Port Angeles to help it preserve its air service to Seattle’s Boeing Field.
The grant announced today is one of 19 totaling $6.4 million this year under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program.
Kenmore Air provides the only regular flights between Seattle and Port Angeles with nine-passenger Cessna aircraft. A ground shuttle links Boeing Field with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, about 6 miles south of Boeing, known officially King County International Airport.
Last year the Port Angeles City Council gave the airline $10,000 for marketing to help continue the service, and Sequim’s ponied up $7,000. The Port of Port Angeles, which operates William R. Fairchild International Airport in Port Angeles, and Kenmore itself made up the rest of $40,000 required to match the federal grant to bring the full total to $400,000.
The grant, which includes lodging tax funds from the city councils, is meant to bolster the unprofitable route between Port Angeles and Seattle.
In 2009, 24,513 passengers flew back and forth on Kenmore’s Port Angeles route compared with 23,490 in 2008, according to the port’s operations report for December.
In 2007, a total of 26,889 passengers flew the route.
The six-week closure of the Hood Canal Bridge for reconstruction last May and early June was credited for the slight increase in 2009 passengers over 2008’s total, Kenmore told the Port of Port Angeles commissioners Jan. 11.
